Painswick Rococo Garden

About

Painswick Rococo Garden is a unique and fascinating insight into early to mid 18th century English garden design. The only complete Rococo garden in England, it dates from a brief period (1720 – 1760) when English gardens were changing from the formal to the informal. These Rococo gardens combined formal vistas with winding woodland walks and more natural planting.

However, Rococo gardens were so much more, their creators were showing off their wealth and including features that were both flamboyant and frivolous. The gardens featured buildings of unusual architectural styles, to be used as both eye catchers and viewpoints. These became almost regency playrooms, an extension of the house to be enjoyed by the owner and his guests.

At Painswick they are restoring the Garden back to how it was in a painting dated 1748. They have contemporary buildings, woodland walks, herbaceous borders and a large Kitchen Garden all hidden away in a charming Cotswold valley with splendid views of the surrounding countryside. There is also an intriguing maze, situated next to the original Garden and created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of that important painting.

The Garden is a tranquil hideaway for those looking for a romantic walk with their partner, or a secret place that children love to explore.

The cafe serves light lunches and delicious cakes. Many of the ingredients used in the Cafe are grown in their own Garden, so you can see then growing and then taste them. Their Gift Shop stocks a range of products, many locally sourced, for all ages. 

Seasonal highlights are the winter snowdrops and spring bulbs, heritage roses and in the Autumn a harvest display of the historic fruit and vegetables they grow.

The Garden holds the Visit Britain Quality Assurance Attraction award and the Cotswold Tourism Green Leaf award.